Host controller interface for universal serial bus (usb) power delivery

Abstract

An apparatus, comprising a system management bus configured to communicate with a USB PDC, and a processor coupled to the system management bus and configured to send a power delivery configuration to the PDC, wherein the power delivery configuration comprises voltage and current settings, and receive a power delivery status from the PDC. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising a power bus interface configured to communicate with a USB port partner, a system management bus interface configured to communicate with a host, and a processor coupled to the power bus interface and the system management bus interface, wherein the processor is configured to receive, via the system management bus interface, a power delivery configuration from the host, generate a power capability message based on the power delivery configuration, and send, via the power bus interface, the power capability message to the USB port partner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a system management bus configured to communicate with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Power Delivery Controller (PDC); and   a processor coupled to the system management bus and configured to:
 send a power delivery configuration to the PDC, wherein the power delivery configuration comprises voltage and current settings; and 
 receive a power delivery status from the PDC, wherein the power delivery status comprises a power capability of a USB port partner. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage and the current settings are voltage and current consumption requirements. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage and the current settings are voltage and current provisioning capabilities. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power delivery configuration further comprises a power delivery role configuration, and wherein the power delivery role configuration comprises a power consumer role, a power provider role, a power consumer/provider (C/P) role, or a power provider/consumer (P/C) role. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power delivery configuration further comprises a USB receptacle type, a USB receptacle current rating, an automatic power delivery role swap mode, an automatic power delivery role swap initiation mode, a Built in Self-Test (BIST) mode, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein in the power delivery configuration further comprises power delivery negotiation parameters, and wherein the power delivery negotiation parameters comprise a USB suspend capability, a USB communication capability, a higher power requirement, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to send a power delivery command to the PDC, and wherein the power delivery command instructs the PDC to:
 request the power delivery capability of the USB port partner;   stop performing power delivery operations;   disconnect from a first power source;   connect to a second power source;   perform a cable-type detection;   perform the power delivery operations irrespective of a result returned from the cable-type defection, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the power delivery command further instructs the PDC to:
 negotiate for an increase in voltage supply with the USB port partner;   request the USB port partner to draw a minimum current, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the power delivery command further comprises a role swap command, and wherein the role swap command instructs the PDC to:
 initiate a role swap process with the USB port partner;   stop performing power provider operations;   start performing power consumer operations;   stop performing the power consumer operations; and   start performing the power provider operations.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 send an event configuration to the PDC to register for a notification of an event, wherein the event comprises a hard reset event, an excessive voltage drop event, a power delivery negotiation update event, a message received event, or combinations thereof; and   receive an event notification from the PDC when the event occurs.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a sub-system bus configured to communicate with a plurality of sub-systems, wherein the message received event comprises a request from the USB port partner to draw a minimum current, and wherein the processor is further configured to instruct the sub-systems to draw less current. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a power bus interface configured to communicate with a universal serial bus (USB) port partner;   a system management bus interface configured to communicate with a host; and   a processor coupled to the power bus interface and the system management bus interface, wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive, via the system management bus interface, a power delivery configuration from the host, wherein the power delivery configuration comprises voltage and current settings; 
 generate a power capability message based on the power delivery configuration; and 
 send, via the power bus interface, the power capability message to the USB port partner. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a non-volatile memory, and wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, via the system management bus interface, a power delivery configuration store command from the host; and   store the power delivery configuration to the non-volatile memory in response to the power delivery configuration store command.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, via the power management bus interface, a power delivery message from the USB port partner, wherein the power delivery message comprises a power capability of the USB port partner; and   send, via the system management bus interface, the power delivery message to the host.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, via the system management bus interface, a notification request of a power delivery status, wherein the notification request comprises a USB plug detection notification request; and   send, via the system management bus interface, the power delivery status to the host, wherein the power delivery status comprises a USB plug detection status.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus comprises a power switch interface coupled to a plurality of power switches, and wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, via the system management bus interface, a power delivery command from the host, wherein the power delivery command comprises a power delivery command;   disable a first power switch of the plurality of power switches in response to the power delivery command; and   enable a second power switch of the plurality of power switches in response to the power delivery command.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the power delivery command further comprises a role swap command, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate a role swap process with the USB port partner according to the role swap command, and wherein the role swap process comprises a power provider to power consumer role swap process or a power consumer to power provider role swap process. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 enter a low power mode, wherein the low power mode is at least lower than a normal operational mode;   wake up from the low power mode; and   send, via the system management interface bus, a wake up status, to the host after waking up from the low power mode.   
     
     
         19 . A method for interfacing with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Power Delivery controller (PDC) via a system management bus, wherein the method comprises:
 sending a power delivery configuration to the PDC, wherein the power delivery configuration comprises voltage and current settings;   sending a power delivery command to the PDC, wherein the power delivery command instructs the PDC to send a first power delivery message to a USB port partner of the PDC;   sending a power delivery event configuration to the PDC;   receiving a power delivery event from the PDC; and   receiving a second power delivery message of the USB port partner from the PDC, wherein the second power delivery message comprises a power capability of the USB port partner.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first power delivery message comprises a hard reset request, wherein the power delivery status comprises a hard reset status indicating an occurrence of the hard reset event at the PDC, and wherein the power delivery command further comprises:
 a first role swap command that instructs the PDC to swap role from a power provider to a power consumer; and   a second role swap command that instructs the PDC to swap role from the power provider to the power consumer.